Drivers on Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach soon could soon see lane closures while crews work on $1.76 million in improvements over the course of the next few months.

Myrtle Beach city staff members hope a contractor will be able to begin within the next few weeks on improvements that have been in the works for a few years.

Construction will begin on each side of the street in the 700 block of Kings Highway North , closing the lane closest to the curb in each direction, said city engineer Patrick Sadek. The work will move south block by block every 15 days until completed, with the project ending at Third Avenue South.

The city has submitted a final bid to the state, which is financing the work, and Sadek said he expects to receive the green light to begin within weeks and the work be completed by May 30.

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“We’ve designed it, we’ve bid it,” he said. “Now it’s up to them to give us the go-ahead.”

Improvements include the milling and resurfacing of Kings Highway, new curbs, gutters and sidewalks and crosswalks at every intersection that doesn’t have a traffic light, Sadek said.

Sadek told business owners during a meeting Monday evening that the city chose the affected section of Kings Highway strategically.

“We want to connect it with the work we’re doing on Third Avenue South, we want to connect with the Boulevard, we want to connect with the Boardwalk, which starts at Third Avenue North,” Sadek said.

Ezzy Yakoel, who owns Nothing Over $7.99 on Kings Highway at Second Avenue South, was one of about five business owners at Monday’s meeting who said they liked what the improvements would do for the area, but questioned the timing of the project.

“It’s getting harder and harder to do [construction] because, as we continue to grow our city, every year we encourage more activities during our shoulder season,” planning director Jack Walker said. “But this is the best time to do it. … It’s extremely tight, but we want to get it done.”

Sadek said that once the project is complete, people won’t be able to recognize that section of Kings Highway.

“When this project is done this is going to best section of Kings Highway,” he said.

Sadek said trees in newly constructed medians will be illuminated, as well as along the sidewalks.